Wednesday, May 1, 2013

At first I thought I had nothing to say about either of
these deaths, and I certainly didn’t see any valid connection between the two
people, but as my feelings have sorted out a little I am starting to see some
weird connection-at least in my life.

I was, like a lot of people, devastated by the news that
Chris Haney had been killed in a tragic and seemingly pointless shooting at the
Denny’s on Alameda and I-25. I have been touched and a little surprised at how
many people knew and loved this gentle man. I am surprised because I was
ignorant of the man he had become. Because in my heart Chris will always be the
little boy I knew; the kid who grew up a block from the house Jill and I and
our kids lived in for over 30 years. He and our son Ben became close friends in
7th grade when they were both going to Merrill Middle School. Along
with Caleb Braaten (who now owns the ultra-hip Sacred Bones record label in
NYC) they were the Three Amigos. My nickname for him was Hanaroonie. For a
short time our telephone message at home was Ben and Chris playing guitars and
singing a Suicidal Tendencies song. For a few years there they were
inseparable, discovering baseball cards, then music, then mild delinquency, then
shaky adulthood together. To me, they were just kids. I remember about six
months after I started Twist and Shout, a young customer from South High came
in and informed me that his friend Chris Haney was going around telling
everyone at school that he and Ben and Caleb were going to be taking over and
they’d be running the store because I would have to be retiring soon (I think I
was 30 at the time). It totally cracked me up then and makes me smile still. It
is also emblematic of the person Chris became. I have no doubt that Chris said
it with complete conviction and the best of intentions. He had a wide-eyed
infectious optimism and internal sweetness that made me always want to root for
him. He didn’t change much over the years in my eyes-he got taller and taller
and taller, balder and balder (hmmm I’m beginning to see why I relate to him so
well), but when I would run into him at Gothic shows or at Twist or just out he
seemed like that same goofy, nice kid. He loved music, and he stayed true to
his roots and upbringing. He went to the clubs and he worked at the clubs. He
was a fixture at the Gothic and seemed to such a natural part of the local
scene-the good part of the music biz.

To me, Barry Fey represented the other side of the music
business. And by that I don’t necessarily mean the “bad” side, but rather the
“adult” side. As a part of the music business myself I have come to understand
that in many ways the biz side is bigger than the music side. Barry Fey was
that. He wasn’t about the music really, he was about the business getting done
and getting done right. He did it too. When I moved to Denver in 1968 it still
called itself a cowtown. Barry Fey was one of the major reasons that changed.
With the music came relevance to the counterculture, which in many ways has
turned into mainstream greatness as a city, which Denver most certainly has.
Obviously Fey did not do this himself. He was an awfully big part of it though.
Decades of incredible shows at Red Rocks, arenas, theatres, stadia and clubs
left an amazing legacy. For me, he was an abstract figure for years, this big
guy onstage at countless shows making announcements. Tales of his terrifying
temper were famous. When I got into the music business in the 80’s he was sort
of on his way out as a promoter, but that was when I started crossing paths
with Barry. He would come into the store and talk to me, or I would make him a
mix tape for some bus tour he was doing, or he would fish around to see what
his memorabilia was worth. I would see him walking in the park occasionally, or
eating in a restaurant. One time we went to a party at his house, but for the
most part he was still a pretty distant guy. In the last year he did a book
signing at the store and he was really trying to be nice. He seemed frail. Then
The Colorado Music Hall Of Fame (on whose board I serve) inducted him at a
ceremony in Boulder. He seemed even more frail and walked past me like we had
never met. All this might lead you to believe I didn’t mourn Fey, but as news
of his death (apparently suicide) has sunk in I have felt a diffuse sense of
loss. Live music made me who I am in many ways, and Barry Fey made live music
happen in Denver for my most important concert going years. Whatever failings
and weaknesses he had as a human being don’t really matter because he made a
huge difference in all our lives who lived through his era.

So Barry was the adult, and Chris was the kid, and somewhere
in between these two very different poles lies me and Twist and Shout and The
Gothic and The High Dive and all the weird corners of Denver and You and your
friends and family. Hold them tight.

That's awesome Paul! I've been thinking all week about how strangely tied Chris and Barry were and the odd and terrible circumstances behind their deaths. I met barry in 1991 when Katie Plumley, her sister, myself, and I think sarah (cant remember for sure if she was there. too many head traumas) were in a bad accident on the way to see U2 at Fiddlers. We were all taken to the hospital, being minors, with bruises scratches and concusion. Barry showed up and personally refunded the price of our tickets and gave us a future voucher. I never before had cared much for the man and the way he corpritized and bloated the ticket prices in this town and always kind of saw him as a shyster who profited off the blood sweat and tears of musicians. my view was destroyed by this kind hearted, genuinely concerned parental figure that came to us out of the kindness of his heart (it did make for a good publicity photo op, but that seemed far from his mind.And what can I say about Haney. i've known him since the first grade. He has become as big and as important, in some ways, as Barry fey ever was. Thanks for the article, and thanks for not lumping me in with the three amigo huligans. I was generally the fourth, but I have a reputation to maintain. Drew

Paul always knows just what to say. Thank god for Paul! I honestly have him to thank for my sanity. Drew - I remember the accident. I was driving the car behind you, following you guys. We then followed your ambulances to the hospital, and you guys were chilling, but staying put, so me and (I don't remember who) jerkily caught the rest of the U2 show. As you said - head trauma. I had no idea Barry Fey reimbursed your tickets! Great story. Crazy Denver. And Drew, you had 2 reputations to uphold around our household. First there was Andy, who Ben was not allowed to hang with due to him being a "bad influence". Then "Drew" came along, who was clearly more upstanding. So that would technically make you the fourth AND fifth amigo. Ah - you guys were like a pile of puppies - all squirmy and moshy and rough and tumble and crazy in love with each other.

Chris will be remembered by my boys forever & I myself as a parent & grandparent i send my heart to Lydia & the Haney Family.Chris was both a friend & coworker with my boys & my family is reaching out to our friends worldwide in support of Lydia & the Haney family with an auction May 17th thru May 19th, of our photo art.Please take a moment and go to Facebook then Please view my wall.I implore you to do so. davidvandenbergI would like to speak to you futher after doing so. @ Shamrocker Thanks to Mike for approval on the Spirit photo. God Bless.Our friends have responded with comments and their Blessings to conduit this auction. The outpouring of love & compassion has overwhelmed me. As for Barry Fey business man 1st human 2nd, nature of the beast. I experienced both sides of Barry Fey.

Chris will be remembered by my boys forever & I myself as a parent & grandparent i send my heart to Lydia & the Haney Family.Chris was both a friend & coworker with my boys & my family is reaching out to our friends worldwide in support of Lydia & the Haney family with an auction May 17th thru May 19th, of our photo art.Please take a moment and go to Facebook then Please view my wall.I implore you to do so. davidvandenbergI would like to speak to you futher after doing so. @ Shamrocker Thanks to Mike for approval on the Spirit photo. God Bless.Our friends have responded with comments and their Blessings to conduit this auction. The outpouring of love & compassion has overwhelmed me. As for Barry Fey business man 1st human 2nd, nature of the beast. I experienced both sides of Barry Fey.